An Overview of OpenMind

• Founded November 1989 - Ended September 1993
• Phase 1 - Research and Planning: November 1989 to March 1990
• Phase 2 - OpenMind Network Start-Up: April 1990
  -- 70 subscribers as of July 1992
  -- County Mental Health Directors Association (58 counties) committed to work with OpenMind
  -- Collaborative agreements with major state associations and members of the CA Mental Health Coalition
  -- over 1500 documents on research, housing, supported education, public policy and other subjects
  

• Realignment of mental health funding created new roles for state and county mental health departments which, ideally, required new levels of communication within and between these entities.
• AB 904 called for long-term planning which included a call for electronic databases and networking.
• AB 3777 described the creation of integrated service system models.
• There was a budget crisis in the state of California. Funds for mental health were being drastically reduced annually which meant that private non-profits, self-help groups and families were, by default, becoming a more integral part of mental health care.

• Mental disabilities are pervasive.
• Major stigma attached to mental disabilities.
• Inadequate insurance coverage.
• Effects of deinstitutionalization.
• Under-funded and overloaded mental health programs.
• No integrated mental health system.
• Over-reliance on medication as the solution.

• Empower individuals with information and connections so that they can find the support and tools to help themselves and each other (reduce isolation, overcome stigma).
• Educate people about psychiatric disabilities and build coalitions to advocate for changes in funding, resource allocation and insurance coverage.
• Promote collaboration between and among providers and people who use mental health services to ensure that services truly address the mental health customers needs in the most cost effective way.
• Create a database of mental health related information to help develop systemic planning capabilities.
• Use information, financial, and human resources in effective and innovative ways.

• A process that helps people share ideas and find common ground to continously improve services.
• A process that facilitates collaboration among mental health service consumers and providers.
• A level playing field where public information is made accessible to all people who are interested. This enables everyone to contribute to planning and evaluation of the service delivery system.
• A system and a mindset that builds community consciousness.

• Electronic Library - Timely and relevant information bases
• Electronic Conferencing - Interactive communication for discussion, debate, & consensus building
• Electronic Mail - One-to-many and one-to-one communications
• Electronic Bulletin Board - A place to post notices and news items
• Electronic Calendar - Master schedule of events
• Electronic Rolodex - Local, county, state & national mental health organizations & materials

• fostering whole-system/big picture thinking,
• empowering individuals with tools and information to help themselves,
• a customer focused/consumer-directed mental health system,
• making public access to public information a reality,
• engendering continuous improvement in the mental health community,
• public/private partnerships for mental health solutions.

• Respected national, state, and academic information suppliers, included: -- Mental Health Policy Resource Center, Washington, DC -- Boston University Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation, Boston, MA -- California Department of Mental Health -- California Self Help Center -- California Coalition for Mental Health
• The CONNECT Business Information Network
• CompuMentor

• Director of Market Relations
• Director of Operations
• Network Administrator
• Office Manager

• Fiscal oversight
• Expertise in organizational design & development, project management
• Guidance for business strategy and organizational health
  
  
• Linder Allen; Penny Howe Gallo; Rev. Ruth Kirk; Vincent A. Moley; Christina Redse Stefanek; Don Yates, Ph.D.

• represented major constituency groups in mental health
• provided insights into the information and communication needs of the mental health community
• recommended pricing, information needs and protocols
• audit and evaluate OpenMind's effectiveness